The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Mma "Precious" Ramotswe sets up a detective agency in Botswana on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, making her the only female detective in the country. At first, cases are hard to come by. But eventually, troubled people come to Precious with a variety of concerns. Potentially philandering husbands, seemingly schizophrenic doctors, and a missing boy who may have been killed by witch doctors all compel Precious to roam about in her tiny van, searching for clues.

Precious and Grace: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 17

Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's premier lady detective, is a little short on help. The codirector of the agency, Grace Makutsi, is busy with her own case, her client none other than their erstwhile assistant, Mr. Polopetsi, who has unwittingly involved himself in a pyramid scheme. The agency's other assistant, Charlie, may also need more help than he can offer, as he is newly embroiled in a romance with a glamorous woman about whom the others have their doubts.

Corduroy Mansions: A Novel

In London’s Pimlico neighborhood lies a tenement described in architectural guides as “a building of no interest whatsoever.” But the residents of Corduroy Mansions—including a literary agent, a wine merchant, a thoroughly unpleasant member of Parliament, and a vegetarian dog—are a rather fascinating lot.

The Dog Who Came in from the Cold: A Corduroy Mansions Novel

Literary agent Barbara Ragg has agreed to represent a man writing a book about his experiences hanging out with the Abominable Snowman. Terence Moongrove’s residence has become the target of New Age cosmologists. And pint-sized terrier Freddie de la Hay is being recruited by MI6 to infiltrate a Russian spy ring.

Emma: A Modern Retelling

Emma Woodhouse's widowed father is an anxious man, obsessed with nutrition and the latest vitamins. He lives the life of a country gentleman in contemporary England, protectively raising his young daughters, Isabella and Emma. While Isabella grows into a young woman, marries a society photographer for Vogue at the age of 19, and gets down to the business of reproducing herself, Emma pursues a degree in interior design at university in Bath and then returns to set up shop in her home village.

Sweet, Thoughtful Valentine

Philosopher and amateur sleuth Isabel Dalhousie has an unstinting commitment to her principles. Sticking to her promises has always been one of them. Then Isabel runs into an old classmate facing marital and financial troubles, who reveals a secret that becomes more and more difficult for Isabel to keep. Thankfully, Isabel's devoted husband, Jamie, is there to help our heroine navigate her competing moral obligations.

A Conspiracy of Friends: A Corduroy Mansions Novel, Book 3

It seems the universe itself is conspiring against the residents of Corduroy Mansions, as they all find themselves struggling with their nearest and dearest. Oedipus Snark’s mother, Berthea, is still at work on her scathing biography of her son—the only loathsome Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament; literary agents Rupert Porter and Barbara Ragg are still battling each other for first crack at the manuscript of Autobiography of a Yeti; and fine arts graduate Caroline Jarvis is busy exploring the blurry line between friendship and romance....

A Great Reckoning: A Novel

When an intricate old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines, it at first seems no more than a curiosity. But the closer the villagers look, the stranger it becomes. Given to Armand Gamache as a gift the first day of his new job, the map eventually leads him to shattering secrets. To an old friend and older adversary. It leads the former Chief of Homicide for the Sûreté du Québec to places even he is afraid to go. But must. And there he finds four young cadets in the Sûreté academy, and a dead professor. And, with the body, a copy of the old, odd map.

At the Reunion Buffet: An Isabel Dalhousie Story

Inviting 25 former classmates to a reunion dinner, Isabel sees an opportunity to finally resolve age-old differences among her classmates. But when damaging secrets and long-held resentments surface, Isabel finds the path to true forgiveness runs along a very slippery slope.

Crowned and Dangerous

Nothing is simple when you're 35th in line for the British crown, least of all marriage. But with love on their side and plans to elope, Lady Georgiana Rannoch and her beau, Darcy O'Mara, hope to bypass a few royal rules....

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd: A Flavia de Luce Novel, Book 8

In spite of being ejected from Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Canada, 12-year-old Flavia de Luce is excited to be sailing home to England. But instead of a joyous homecoming, she is greeted on the docks with unfortunate news: Her father has fallen ill, and a hospital visit will have to wait while he rests. But with Flavia's blasted sisters and insufferable cousin underfoot, Buckshaw now seems both too empty - and not empty enough.

The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree

Nominated for both the Agatha and Anthony awards, national best-selling author Susan Wittig Albert introduces a garden club of lady sleuths in Depression-era Alabama. The Darling Dahlias have just inherited a new clubhouse and garden, complete with two beautiful cucumber trees. But before long, these genteel ladies must unravel the mystery about what’s buried beneath one of these trees and the enigma of the dead body that soon turns up.

Publisher's Summary

Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series has become a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the appeal of endearing protagonist Precious Ramotswe and the author’s charmingly quirky prose. In this 13th installment, Mma Ramotswe’s attention is focused on a pesky disciplinary problem at her adopted daughter’s school - while Grace Makutsi adjusts to wedded bliss and the famed Clovis Andersen arrives in Botswana looking for more than bush tea.

This series is best enjoyed with a really good narrator and Lisette Lecat is that. Her reading brings the characters to life. Since there are many unfamiliar places and names in Botswana hearing them pronounced correctly contributes to the enjoyment of these books. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series is not "serious literature" but it is great fun and very entertaining. The characters are engaging and the insight into the day to day lives of "ordinary" people in Botswana is interesting. This book is the latest in the series and does not disappoint. I would recommend starting to listen to the series from the beginning since there are many references to events and people from the earlier books, so knowing some of the background of the characters does add to the enjoyment. It is like visiting old friends from far away.

In this 13th installment of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, MMa Ramotswe and MMa Makutsi have lots of problems to solve. One of the apprentices of the car repair takes on extra work from a friend for money, and it turns out he is working on stolen cars. Both he and his friend are arrested, and the apprentice turns out to have a very bad lawyer. MMa Ramotswe must help him find his way out of this problem. Then the matron of the orphanage is dismissed from service because the board of directors wants to build a new kitchen instead of each little house having its own kitchen and housemother, and she opposes this change. Mma Ramotswe investigates to find out what really is going on with the board, (shady business to be sure) and to help the matron get her job back. And Mma Makutsi and her newly wed husband are building a house, but there’s something a little shady about the builder. And finally, Clovis Anderson, whose book on private detection both women have memorized to help them in their investigations, comes to Botswana coincidentally, (that’s a little hard to swallow but for these books I’ll suspend disbelief) and helps them with the investigations already mentioned, and they, and we find out about Clovis Anderson. It’s the warmthand humor in these books that makes them so wonderful. And no one could read them better than Lisette Legat. Her pace may be too slow for some, (it normally would be for me), but the pace fits the books and the slower pace of Botswana. These are books that make you feel good, unusual for mysteries.

Immigration lawyer in Kansas City. I like Character driven dramas, fantasy (monsters, magic and witches oh my!) and coming of age stories. Favs include: The Book Thief, The Game of Throne series, Harry Potter Series, Dresden Files, Nightside series, anything by Neil Gaimen, 100 Years of Solitude.

Where does The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Whenever there is a new book in the series from the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency I jump on buying it. This is such a charming series with characters that I have grown to love and almost think of as real. I envision them living their lives in Jabarony in Botswana and each of these books is a snapshot of what they have been doing. I love this series.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters. Hands down. They are real and lovable and fallible and comforting. I like knowing they are there. Nothing really ever happens in these stories, but I still can't put them down. They are a delicious slice of life. I also LOVE the narrator. She is one of the best audible has.

Have you listened to any of Lisette Lecat’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Amazing as always. She is wonderful and consistent and I love listening to her melodious voice.

Any additional comments?

I almost shouted for joy when the foreigner walked into Ma. Ramotswy's office. I think I was just as excited as they were to meet him.

No. He never has. Precious Ramotse (sp) is just as wonderful as ever and the people are as peculiar and somehow everything all works out in the end. I love the Scottish books and these books. And Lisette Lecat is one of my favorite narrators. She can do any accent in the world. A delight.

Ahhh.... Every spring I anticipate the release of another installment of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency story. This series is a beautiful mix of mystery, philosophy, and fascinating interplay between characters. All of your favorite characters are here - including a surprise guest. I loved every minute of it!!!

This one is not quite as good as the others. I love listening to Lisette Lecat. She has a wonderful voice and she is so good at bringing the characters in this series to life. I think what I missed in this book is the time out then the author tells us about Africa and how beautiful it is. There really wasn't that moment in this book and I missed it. The story was ok and the characters wonderful and that means alot.

I am a fan of Alexander McCall Smith and love his meandering philosophizing. Lisette Lecat bring the book to life with her narration of the book. In this story Clovis Anderson comes to town and helps Precious solve her crime. Smith's stories always impart some pearls of wisdom and or ethics in an interesting story. When reading his books I always feel like I have just had afternoon tea with an old friend. For those of you who are fans enjoy the book. This series always makes me want to take a trip to Botswana. I understand this month they are releasing another new book called The Great Cake Mystery. It takes place when Precious is a child. Can not wait for it to come out.

I have become a huge fan of this series. My first introduction to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency was through the audiobook, and I loved the way Lisette Lecat made Botswana real to me. I love the way she pronounces Mma Ramotswe's name (and every other Botswana name, for that matter). I have read some books in the series, but know that I much more enjoy them when listening. There is nothing surprising or monumental in any of the books, and this one is no exception. But the wisdom, grace, and humor I find in the traditional Botswana wisdom woven for me in these stories is the equivalent of putting on my favorite comfortable sweatshirt and curling up in front of the fire with a nice cup of tea. Except I can be drawn into this world while still doing tasks that need doing.

I also found myself brewing a lot more tea while I listened to this book.

What did you love best about The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection?

Simple approach to complicated situations. I loved the fact that Precious finally got to meet her longtime mentor. He tried to explain that he was not the expert she had admired for all these years. Precious, in her simple approach to her life in Botswana, maintained her faith in his expertise and enlisted his advise in a case.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection?

When they foiled the plans of wealthy man who conspired to change the whole concept of the Orphan Farm by building a 'communal" Dining room...in doing would have lined his own pockets.

Have you listened to any of Lisette Lecat’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have listened to many--this one was equally well done.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My main reaction was pure enjoyment with every chapter.

Any additional comments?

The main reason these books are so enjoyable, in addition to the great story lines, is that they are read with "English" accent. Just reading the words in a "regular' book, you miss all the nuances built into the story line. The pure simplicity of the lifestyle so well depicted by the author, is brought put by the readers talent.